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By M. Wasel

The Gross Rosebel gold deposits are located in theGuiana Shield of northcentral Suriname in South America. The property lies 80 km (50 miles) south of the capital city of Paramaribo. Gross Rosebel covers 170 km2 (65 sq miles) in an area of small hills covered primarily with secondary tropical rain forest, separated by discontinuous savannah (Fig. 1). The concession is accessible from Paramaribo by a 120-km (75-mile) paved and all-weather gravel road. Surficial gold was discovered in 1880 by local artisanal miners. This was followed by small-scale mechanized mining from 1885 to 1939. Placer Development carried out the first systematic exploration program from 1974 to 1977. In May 1992, Golden Star Resources optioned the property. Initial shallow reconnaissance diamond drilling of the extensive surface geochemical anomalies intersected sporadic gold mineralization with no apparent continuity between drill sections. Successive deep augering, trenching and systematic grid drilling, based on information from surface mapping, allowed the development of a preliminary geological model. Further drilling of specific structural-lithologic targets and more complete synthesis of geological data from the trenching and deep auger sampling added to the geological model and defined the multiple controls of gold mineralization. Carefully planned infill drilling on a tighter grid spacing resulted in progressive definition of reserves within six discrete gold deposits. Reserves based on $11.25/g ($350/oz) gold now stand at 35.5 Mt (39.1 million st) of 1.8 g/t (0.053 oz/st) gold, or 62.2 t (2 million oz) of gold.

Jan 1, 1998

By J. L. Fuller, N. A. Abdel-Khalek

This paper contains a brief summary of design descriptions and generally accepted designations for longwall ventilation systems. Various ventilation systems for longwalls developed using single-entry and multiple- entry systems are discussed. Design considerations specific to longwall mining are included.

Jan 1, 1991

By K. L. Johnson

Networks of monitoring wells were established prior to mining at four longwall mine sites in the Appalachians to monitor the effect of mining on water levels, water quality and well yield. Two of the sites were located in stream valleys and the other two sites were located on hilltops. The depth to the mined seam ranged from 500-850 feet with the deeper cover being associated with the hilltop sites. Maximum declines in groundwater levels during and after mining were an order of magnitude less in the stream valley aquifers than in the hilltop aquifers. However, water levels in hilltop wells located outside the area immediately above the panel were unaffected. Water quality changes in wells as a result of longwall mining were negligible at all four sites. Increases in aquifer transmissivity and well yield were much more pronounced in the stream valley aquifers than in the hilltop aquifers. The significantly larger recharge area for the stream valley aquifers than that for the hilltop aquifers may partially account for the differing responses of these two classes of aquifers to longwall mining. These observations appear to be consistent with the stress-relief fracture model for Appalachian Plateau groundwater hydrology proposed by Wyrick and Borchers in 1981.

Jan 1, 1986

By Deborah Muggli

Minera Escondida is the world's largest copper mine. Its capacity is more than 800 kt/a (880,000 stpy) of copper. The Escondida open-pit mine operates at an elevation of 3,100 m (10,170 ft). It is located in the Atacama desert about 160 km (100 miles) southeast of the port of Antofagasta. At Coloso, 14 km (8 miles) south of Antofagasta, copper concentrate is dewatered by filtration for storage and shipment to overseas markets (Fig. 1). Concentrate filtrate water, after being treated to remove suspended solids, is discharged at 60 m (200 ft) depth into the Pacific Ocean. This effluent is free of particulates. However, it does contain metal levels above US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) receiving water criterion. EPA standards are more strict than Chilean receiving water guidelines. However, a multiport diffuser provides rapid mixing of sea water with effluent to ensure metal levels in the receiving water remain below EPA receiving water guidelines. The Escondida Mine began operation in December 1990 at a rated mill capacity of 35 kt/d (38,500 stpd). Since then, the complex has since undergone three expansions. In 1996, it processed 115 kt/d (127,000 stpd) of ore. At Coloso in 1993, about 25% of the copper concentrate was fed to an ammonia leach plant for solvent extraction and electrowinng of cathode copper. This plant is designed to produce 80 kt/a (88,000 st/year) of cathode copper. In 1995, the ocean diffuser system's capacity was doubled to accommodate increased flows to a maximum 50 L/sec (793 gpm). This was achieved by extending the diffuser chamber by 32 m (105 ft) and adding 16 nozzles, which doubled the diffuser's capacity. In November 1996, Rescan Environmental Services began a field verification of the outfall/diffuser system's performance. The study's objective was to determine the performance of the outfall/diffuser system by measuring dilution factors using fluorescent Rhodamine dye and to determine if copper concentrations are below the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) water quality criterion of 2.9 µg/L total copper (EPA, 1986). Rhodamine dye was injected into the outfall/diffuser system. An oceanographic survey using an in situ fluorometer was conducted to measure dye concentrations in the effluent plume. Water column characteristics were also measured. These included current speed and direction.

Jan 1, 1997

By M. L. Nave, R. E. Melley

DC motor drives are available technology for belt conveyors. The success of the application in mining depends on adequate and timely consideration of DC drive features. The purpose of this paper is to familiarize and inform possible mining users of DC drive attributes.

Jan 1, 1996

By T. S. Golosinski

This article reviews current contract mining practices in Australia. Various types of contracts are reviewed, including partnering arrangements and alliances between the contractor and the mine owner. Applicability is also discussed of various types of contracts to specific mining situations, as is their effect on overall mine performance.

Jan 1, 1998

By N. Finkelstein, D. A. Hinckfuss

The large and compact but simple Bougainville Copper Limited flotation circuit has been in operation for 3-1/2 years. Discussion of problem areas encountered since start-up and remedies that have been implemented or proposed, form the main basis of this paper. Full cur- rent operational data is also provided.

Jan 1, 1976

By Dominic F. Howarth

Groove deepening (deepening of a groove in rock by successive passes of a rock cutting tool) is a potential operational feature associated with tunnel boring machines. Little research has been undertaken in this area which is of direct practical relevance to the design and application of tunnel boring machines. Laboratory experiments using single, double and triple disc arrays have revealed an important fundamental cycle of events associated with disc cutters when progressively deepening a groove. Furthermore, in contrast to pick cutters, groove deepening by discs is shown to be an efficient operation. This can be directly attributed to the increased interaction between disc cutters due to the increase in magnitude of lateral forces generated as a groove is deepened.

Jan 1, 1981

By Robert Snow, Francisco Sotillo

Six types of amines were evaluated in the cleaning step of the rougher concentrate for the Crago “Double Float” process in terms of relative selectivity. Selectivity of these amines was ranked based on both batch and locked cycle flotation tests. Two parameters were used for selectivity ranking, the Selectivity Index, SI, and the ratio of insol rejection to the tailings weight percentage, R*. The comparison of the flotation results of the batch tests of the cleaning step of the Crago process for an unsized amine feed generated the following ranking from the most selective to the least selective mine: Quaternary > Primary [ ]Tertiary [ ] Condensate > Ether > Secondary(?).

Jan 1, 2002

By Robin B. Steven

Rio Tinto's Kennecott Bingham Canyon Mine is one of the largest open pit copper mines in the world. In 1988 they completed a $400 million project using a conveying system to transfer the ore from an in-pit crusher to the concentrator. The longest conveyor, C-6, was 17,352ft long and ran in a tunnel through the mountain-side to the concentrator. The belt was removed after 14+ years after carrying 700 million tons of 10 minus ore. The paper discusses the original G6 belt's performance and new splicing methods used to achieve a 60% dynamic splice efficiency on the replacement belt.

Jan 1, 2004

By Arthur J. Borst, Joseph P. Gildner

In a recent National survey, Seattle topped the list for having the worst daily traffic congestion. To address this problem, Sound Transit is planning to build 40km (24 miles) of light rail, including ten kilometers (six miles) of twin tunnels with four subway stations 40 m (130 ft.) to 65 m (210 ft.) deep. The overall schedule is very aggressive and Sound Transit is preparing four separate heavy civil construction contracts for simultaneous underground construction. Three of these contracts are being considered for design-build. Final design will start in March2000 and all underground construction must be completed by the end of 2005.

Jan 1, 1999

By S. Chander

Neutralization of acidity by addition of alkaline materials is a commonly used method to treat acid mine drainage. However, this procedure requires large amounts of reagents based on acid-base accounting. The potential use of organic additives in preventing or ameliorating acid mine drainage was investigated in this research. The tests were conducted in weathering columns using refuse samples from a coal cleaning plant. Both cationic and anionic compounds were tested. For a comparison, tests were made in the presence of limestone and lime. The results show that some of the reagents substantially retarded the rate of oxidation whereas others even enhanced it. The suppression of the rate of pyrite oxidation was ascribed to surface chelation. Formation of surface compounds prevented the pyrite particles from further oxidation. Such a treatment required only small quantities of reagents since the reaction was confined to the surface.

Jan 1, 1992

By Donald Ross-Watt

Mining project investment concerns the installation of mine capacity for the purpose of generating a stream of future economic benefits. In order to make this type of investment decision, the optimum specifications for the project must first be determined. Then, the economic justification of the investment tin be evaluated based on these specifications. Economic evaluation to guide mining project investment decisions is based on a proposed plan for mining the deposit over its operational life. If single point estimates are made of deposit characteristics and environmental parameters* as the basis for assessing a future stream of economic benefits associated with the investment, a future mining-plan can be optimally fitted to these estimates and, to the extent that such estimates are actually realized, this plan will retain optimality.

Jan 1, 1979

Cost reduction programs can focus on total cost or unit cost, but unit cost is usually the principal objective. The production cost per unit is: [Unit cost = Total cost Production volume] Consequently, any activity that reduces the total cost or increases the production volume will reduce the unit cost. Production volume is increased by (1) maximizing the availability of the production equipment and (2) maximizing equipment performance during periods of operation. Most operations managers routinely focus on volume because the factors influencing volume are generally well understood and congruent with the managers' technical skills. In fact, production volume (as a percentage of maximum achievable capacity) is widely recognized as one of the most significant measures of operational performance.

Jan 1, 1999

By None None

This month, Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (MME) is launching with a special issue on mineral and metallurgical processing in honor of the 90th birthday of Prof. Emeritus Douglas W. Fuerstenau. Headed by a special review article by Prof. Fuerstenau, this special issue contains 22 papers by the top experts in the field.

By Morgan M. Sears

In recent years, one large mine collapse and numerous smaller bump events have resulted in a renewed interest in coal bump research. With numerical modeling, the Energy Release Rate (ERR) calculation quantifies the ?release? of the gravitational potential energy of the rock mass into the environment as mining progresses. This release of energy can occur passively in the form of heat and sound or dynamically in the form of pillar bumps or rock bursts. From the initial application of a calculated energy release rate in the deep hard-rock mines of South Africa, the ERR was found to have a significant correlation with the risk or potential of damaging coal bumps or rock bursts. In this research, an ERR calculation is incorporated into the modern LaModel program to facilitate the analysis for potential coal bumps. Initially the ERR calculations in LaModel are verified using a case study of cut sequences originally modeled using the MULSIM/NL program. Then, the ERR calculations are applied to a bump-prone mine in Southern Appalachia were a number of different pillar recovery cut sequences were used in order to minimize the risk of bumps.

Jan 1, 2009

By M. T. Worley

Joint Development Associates International, Inc. (JDA) began humanitarian relief and community development in Central Asia in1992, following the collapse of the former Soviet Union. Appropriate technology has played an important role in their efforts to assist those segments of society that are most vulnerable to poverty and disease. Three case histories are described to illustrate the successful implementation of simple, but effective technology in community development.

Jan 1, 2004

By Frits Agterberg

Statistical exploration uses statistical methods to identify targets for more detailed investigation by estimating the odds of occurrence of mineral deposits. The study area which contains the possible targets may be as large as 1 000 000 km2 or as small as 100 km2. Results are presented in terms of a probability index for the existence of a deposit or, more precisely, in terms of expected dollar value for a unit area, or even in terms of number, size, and grade of deposits remaining to be discovered. Typically, selected geological, geophysical, or geochemical information is systematically quantified and statistically analyzed by using the computer in order to distinguish between geological environments on the basis of the probability that they contain undiscovered deposits of a specific type. All possible targets are compared with one another by using information on areas known to contain deposits. The information on the known areas is either a set of control data consisting of values for the same parameters as are quantified for the entire study area, or it embodies a specific model for the occurrence of a given deposit type. Examples of both procedures will be discussed in this chapter.

Jan 1, 1979

By K. N. Han, M. C. Fuerstenau

Challenges in five major areas of hydrometallurgy are presented and discussed. These are: leaching low-grade oxide and sulfide ores; oxidative leaching of sulfide concentrates; processing refractory ores; bacterial leaching and processing: and secondary metal recovery.

Jan 1, 1989

By George Verley

A new and important task in assisting developing countries is the transfer of microcomputer technology applied to mineral exploration and mining. With this objective in mind, three micro- computers have been introduced in Niger and a training program has been put into place. The core of the program consists of two seminars in Niamey, Niger, after which the attendants will be able to operate a microcomputer and use a small library of application software.

Jan 1, 1987